Chalcedon, known as the “Land of the Blind” in the foundation myth of Istanbul dating back to BC, is the liveliest district of the Asian Side today. Shopping places in Kadikoy attract both locals and tourists like a magnet.
Tourists visiting Istanbul generally focus on Sultanahmet and Taksim districts. However, it should be emphasized that taking a ferry ride to the Asian Side of Istanbul and visiting Kadikoy’s fish market is a wonderful local experience.
As a local tour guide born and raised in Istanbul, I would like to introduce you to the shopping streets of Kadikoy in this article. You can also find shopping malls near Kadikoy in the second half of the article.
Shopping Streets in Kadikoy 2024
The shopping streets in Kadikoy offer the best local shopping experience in Istanbul. Kadikoy, the most popular district of the Asian side, is the right place to observe the daily life in Istanbul.
I gathered the most lively and crowded shopping streets of Kadikoy under five headings. However, I will be dedicating the biggest share to Kadikoy Fish Market.
This is because the streets surrounding the Fish Market offer the best street food in Istanbul and it is one of the main stops of food tours in Istanbul. In addition, the oldest local restaurants and dessert shops of the city are located here.
1. Kadikoy Fish Market
Kadikoy Fish Market is the place where Istanbulites on the Asian side buy sweets, pickles, coffee and cheese. There are shops on the market specializing in each of these products for decades. Those who shop at this market usually know the shop owners for many years.
Kadikoy is the place that represents traditional shopping on the Asian side of Istanbul. On the other hand, Eminonu stands out in the same way on the European side of Istanbul. If you wander the streets surrounding Spice Bazaar, you will see that the same atmosphere is present there.
a. Sekerci Cafer Erol
Sekerci Cafer Erol is the most famous dessert shop on the Asian side of Istanbul. The shop in the very center of Kadikoy Market stands out as a showcase of the most delicious Turkish desserts.
Shoppers in Kadikoy are attracted by the colorful windows of this shop and take a snack break. For this reason, all the tables in front of Sekerci Cafer Erol are full throughout the day.
b. Beyaz Firin
Beyaz Firin is one of the most famous bakeries in Istanbul. Here you can find delicious snacks to consume, especially with Turkish tea.
Bread varieties, bakery products and light desserts can be found in Beyaz Firin. As a local, when I go to Kadikoy, I don’t come back without buying a pack of snacks from here.
c. Baylan
Baylan is one of the oldest sweet shops in Istanbul. Baylan, which has been run by a Greek family for several generations, continues a tradition that has been going on since the Ottoman period.
During the Ottoman period, the most colorful sweet shops and taverns in Istanbul were run by the Greeks. Baylan in Kadikoy serves traditional and modern desserts in a nostalgic atmosphere.
d. Yanyali Fehmi
Yanyali Fehmi is the right address for those who want to experience traditional Turkish cuisine in Istanbul. The restaurant’s buffet serves excellent food and they’re all so attractive that it’s hard to decide which one to get.
Yanyali Fehmi is a restaurant established at the beginning of the 20th century. The restaurant hired the chefs of the palace in the years when the Ottoman Empire ended and the Republic was founded.
Chefs from the palace gave Yanyali Fehmi wonderful recipes. For this reason, this restaurant has one of the best Ottoman cuisine in Istanbul. I also told the stories of such old restaurants in the article on the best local restaurants in Istanbul.
e. Ciya Kebap
Ciya Kebap is the place where shoppers take their lunch break most often in Kadikoy. Ciya is so popular that it has three branches on the same street. Ciya is listed as the best restaurant on the Asian side in guides such as Lonely Planet.
Ciya Kebap gives you the opportunity to taste the best appetizers of Anatolia. If you think that Anatolia is a place that melts Turkish, Arab, Iranian, Greek and Armenian cuisines in one pot, you can understand how rich the menu is.
You can choose the appetizers you want from the open buffet of Ciya Kebap and fill your plate with them. But don’t forget that there are amazing kebab options as main course on the menu!
f. Kurukahveci Mehmed Efendi
Kurukahveci Mehmed Efendi is the best place to buy Turkish coffee in Istanbul. For this reason, there are queues to buy coffee in front of both Eminonu (near Spice Bazaar) and Kadikoy branches.
g. Ali Muhittin Hacibekir
Ali Muhittin Hacibekir is the oldest Turkish delight shops in Istanbul. You can find dozens of Turkish delights in the shop, which has been in service since 1777. Ali Muhittin Hacibekir also has branches in Eminonu and Beyoglu, which are symbols of traditional shopping.
h. Pickle Shops
Pickle Shops are one of the most colorful parts of Kadikoy Fish Market. You can taste the pickles of all kinds of vegetables in these shops. Pickles are one of the indispensable parts of Turkish dishes.
2. Bahariye Street
Bahariye Street is among the most important shopping streets in Kadikoy. The nostalgic tram passes through the middle of the street, just like on Istiklal Street on the other side of the city.
When you finish with the Kadikoy‘s Fish Market, you may walk up to the Bahariye Street to see trendy shops of Istanbul. You may come accross international brands like Nike, Adidas, Benetton as well as some local brands like Mavi Jeans, Deriden and Hotic.
There is something for everyone in Bahariye Street and it is ideal for shopping in Kadikoy. In the meantime, do not forget to explore the passages and side streets while visiting Bahariye. For example, Opera Onur Passage is ideal for buying cheap but good quality clothes.
3. Tellalzade Street
Tellalzade Street is famous for its antique shops. In this street, you will see small, cute shops selling antiques collected from old Turkish houses. Tellalzade Street is a side street that goes from Kadikoy Fish Market to Bahariye Street. It is also very close to Kadife Street, the street with bars and pubs.
Kadikoy is actually one of the most popular places of nightlife in Istanbul. However, since this article focuses more on eating and shopping, I did not mention it in detail. If you want to experience the nightlife of Kadikoy, you can also look at the article named the best bars in Istanbul.
4. Moda Street
Moda Street starts from where the Kadikoy Fish Market ends and continues into Moda, one of the coolest districts of Istanbul. At the end of the road, you can reach Moda Pier, which has a magnificent sea view.
Moda is one of the beautiful neighborhoods in Istanbul. Representing the modern life of Istanbul, there are many things to discover about food, drink and nightlife in the district. That’s why taking a stroll in Moda is among the top things to do in Kadikoy.
You can see that Moda is definitely represented by a few places in articles such as the best speciality coffee shops and best breakfast places and the best fish restaurants you can find on this site.
5. Cilek Street
Cilek Street used to be home to the “Old Tuesday Bazaar”. People from all districts of the Asian Side would come to this market, which was held once a week on Tuesdays, to shop for clothes. Although its form has changed, this street in Kadikoy is still a cheap clothing paradise.
Cicek Street is right across Altiyol (Bull monument and nearby), which swarms with people on weekdays. On this street, you can find trendy dresses at boutique shops that are lined up across each other. Moreover, you can also find makeup products and shoe shops too.
If you are wondering where the locals shop in Istanbul, you can find the answer to your question here. Cilek Street is one of the best shopping streets in Kadikoy with its endless options for cheap clothing.
6. Bagdat Street
Bagdat Street is a 15-kilometer shopping street that starts from Kadikoy and extends into the interior of the Asian Side. In this sense, we can say that it is the biggest shopping area in Istanbul.
You can find countless restaurants, cafes and bars on Bagdat Street. Of course, there are also shops of domestic and foreign brands. In this sense, it is the place that offers the most options for clothes shopping in Kadikoy.
Shopping Malls near Kadikoy 2024
There are many modern and classic shopping centers near Kadikoy. In the first two titles in the following lines, you can find the more modest Opera Onur Bazaar and Kadikoy Bazaar. These are places where locals shop for cheap clothing.
On the other hand, in the last three titles, you can find modern shopping malls near Kadikoy. Of these, Tepe Nautilus and Optimum are medium-sized shopping centers, while Akasya is one of the largest shopping malls in Istanbul.
1. Opera Onur Bazaar
Opera Onur Bazaar is one of the old-style shopping passages on Bahariye Street, which we mentioned above. There are dozens of cheap clothing shops in the bazaar, which is an apartment consisting of several floors.
It is well known to tourists that there are imitations of the latest creations of famous clothing brands in Istanbul. For example, tourists staying around Sultanahmet go to the Grand Bazaar to find fakes of famous creations.
For those staying on the Asian side, one of the ideal places to find similar models of famous clothing brands is Opera Onur Bazaar. The name of the bazaar is known as Opera Onur Çarşısı in the local language.
2. Kadikoy Bazaar (Kadıköy Çarşı)
Kadikoy Bazaar is located near the sea, very close to the fish market of Kadikoy. Kadikoy Bazaar is an old-fashioned shopping mall with a nostalgic meaning, especially for locals.
As a child born and raised in Kadikoy, I saw the first escalator in this bazaar. These small bazaars were important as there were no big shopping malls in Istanbul until the 90’s.
Military camouflage clothing and winter clothing stores are available at Kadikoy Bazaar. Those who are going to travel with a backpack can buy bags and many outdoor equipment from here.
This old bazaar is just opposite the post office building. First you can find the better known Akmar Passage (used-book bazaar). Kadıköy Çarşısı (with its local name) is adjacent to Akmar Passage.
3. Tepe Nautilus
Tepe Nautilus stands out as the closest shopping center to the touristic center of Kadikoy. This mall has almost everything the average shopper would look for. To get to Tepe Nautilus from Kadikoy, simply take the M4 metro to the Ayrilik Cesmesi stop.
When Tepe Nautilus opened 20 years ago, it was the most luxurious shopping center on the Asian Side of Istanbul. Although many more modern shopping centers were opened later, this mall is unrivaled for its proximity to Kadikoy.
You can shop for clothes, go to the movies and enjoy the cafes at Tepe Nautilus. There is also a giant playground for children on the top floor. It is a reasonably sized mall where people find what they are looking for easily.
4. Akasya AVM
Akasya AVM is one of the award-winning shopping centers on the Asian side. In addition to being a shopping center, Akasya is a living space with giant residences and is located in one of the transportation centers of the Asian Side.
Akasya AVM offers spacious areas for those who go out for shopping and dining. You can come across cultural events, activities organized for children and various workshops in Akasya.
Akasya is the best among the shopping malls near Kadikoy with its rich shopping options offering both domestic and foreign brands. Akasya is at the intersection of public transportation vehicles such as Marmaray, Metrobus and Metro M4.
5. Optimum Outlet
Optimum Outlet is home to dozens of brands, homecare and technology shops, markets and a real ice rink of 500 square meters. As the name suggests, Optimum has shops with cheap outlets.
After a great shopping experience, you can dine and rest at one of the many restaurants at the food court. The mall has spacious indoor and outdoor areas and its visitors will definitely have a great shopping and entertainment experience.
Optimum Outlet is a place where off-season products are sold. For this reason, it is one of the cheap shopping malls in Istanbul. In this sense, it offers opportunities to complement your shopping experience on the streets of Kadikoy.
Conclusion
In this article, we focused on the best shopping places in Kadikoy. But of course, when you expand the circle, there are many other places to shop on both the Asian and European sides of Istanbul.
You can find many tips about shopping in the shopping category on this site. For example, the articles about shopping in Sultanahmet and shopping in Taksim and shopping near Galata Tower may be useful for you.
Although Kadikoy is the most important shopping district on the Asian side, there are other shopping centers in the east of Istanbul. If you want to go deeper on this subject, the article on shopping places on the Asian Side of Istanbul may also interest you.
Written by Serhat Engul
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